VIII Plenary Council of the Order

Br. Mauro Jöhri, General Minister

February 2 of this year, I announced that, together with the brother Defi nitors, we had decided to convene a Plenary Council of the Order on the theme of “the grace of working.” On that occasion I mentioned briefl y the motivations that gave rise to the calling of this event. Writing now, I wish to propose the theme more deeply and I will do so by sharing with you some of the situations and facts that belong to my personal story. Before long I will thank to the Lord for the 50th anniversary of belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and during this time I have witnessed many changes. I have lived most of my life in Europe and it is obvious that the eyes with which I look at facts and events are those of a European. I can affi rm, however, that the knowledge of the Order gained in seven years of service as General Minister confi rms that the many changes seen in Europe, because of the process of globalization, are expanding progressively to all the continents. I would also emphasize that the next PCO should trace a line of continuity with the two immediately preceding that helped us to refl ect of the themes of “Living Poverty in Brotherhood” and “Our Fraternal Life in Minority.”

Refl ection on work places before us the sources of our material support and the work we carry out must keep two central values of our life in mind: fraternity and minority. These aspects will be examined and developed during the preparation for the event, which I wish to be lived as an opportunity for dialogue and formation for the friars.

From the Letter of the General Minister, November 1, 2013